North India Blanketed in Snow, IMD Issues Fresh Alert
Heavy snowfall has transformed North India’s hill states into a winter wonderland, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue fresh weather alerts. The department predicts continued heavy snowfall across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand until January 30.
Key Takeaways
- Orange Alert: IMD issued for heavy snowfall in J&K, Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand on Jan 29-30.
- Major Disruption: Road and air traffic hit; Rohtang Pass closed, flights delayed in Delhi.
- Tourism Boost: Manali receives 15 cm snow, bringing relief to the hospitality sector.
- Temperature Drop: Mercury plunges across plains; Delhi recorded 6.4°C, below seasonal average.
Snowfall Details and District-Wise Impact
Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh, including Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and Kullu, have seen moderate to heavy snowfall since Saturday night. Keylong recorded 30 cm of snow, while Kalpa saw 25 cm. The popular destination of Manali received 15 cm, much to the delight of the local tourism industry.
Critical mountain passes like the Rohtang Pass have been shut for all traffic due to the severe weather conditions.
IMD Forecast and Official Bulletin
The IMD attributes the weather to a fresh western disturbance active from January 28 night. In its official bulletin, the department stated: “A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the Western Himalayan region from January 28 night. Under its influence, light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/snowfall is very likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during January 28-31.”
Isolated heavy snowfall is specifically forecast for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on January 29-30, for Himachal Pradesh on the same dates, and for Uttarakhand on January 30.
Traffic Snarls and Temperature Plunge
The intense snowfall has severely disrupted connectivity. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed following landslides, and several flights at Delhi airport faced delays due to low visibility caused by fog.
Temperatures have dropped significantly. Delhi’s minimum temperature fell to 6.4°C, a degree below normal. The IMD has also warned of dense to very dense morning fog over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh in the next 24 hours.
Safety Advisory in Place
Local authorities have cautioned residents and tourists against visiting avalanche-prone zones. Disaster response teams have been put on standby across the affected states to handle any emergencies.
